Comments on: Harper’s secret Asia policy: much like his public Asia policyhttp://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/harpers-secret-asia-policy-much-like-his-public-asia-policy/
Canada's national weekly current affairs magazineTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:21:34 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2By: kcm2http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/harpers-secret-asia-policy-much-like-his-public-asia-policy/#comment-1021517
kcm2Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:03:00 +0000http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=316587#comment-1021517That does seem to be the point at which Harper – depending on your pov – either panicked or simply did a nifty 3 point turn, direction China. It also made him look like he was an big oil sock puppet.
]]>By: Dothttp://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/harpers-secret-asia-policy-much-like-his-public-asia-policy/#comment-1021515
DotTue, 20 Nov 2012 17:09:00 +0000http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=316587#comment-1021515The rejection of Keystone XL (as then currently configured) was the seminal event and milestone.

Even at anticipated rates of oil sands production a generation from now, the carbon emissions from the oil sands will be just 10% of the current emissions from coal-powered electricity generation in the United States. This does not even include all the US thermal coal being burned overseas.

Stop the US coal railroads of death to the coasts. Not oil sands pipelines.

Oil sands oil will lower global oil prices, which will lower global natural gas prices, which are tied to global oil prices, which will lower global usage of coal in favor of natural gas.

Daily Telegraph ~ Nov 19 2012:
Speaking at the CBI Conference David Cameron told business leaders that Britain was in the “economic equivalent of war” and said the government would be quicker because “in this global race you are either quick or you’re dead”.

At the annual conference in London, the prime minister said the government needed to throw everything it had at winning the global race.

“When this country was at war in the 40s, Whitehall underwent a revolution,” he said.

“Normal rules were circumvented. Convention was thrown out. As one historian put it, everything was thrown at the overriding purpose of beating Hitler.

]]>By: Hester Eastmanhttp://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/harpers-secret-asia-policy-much-like-his-public-asia-policy/#comment-1021507
Hester EastmanTue, 20 Nov 2012 13:01:00 +0000http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=316587#comment-1021507It is amazing how listless MPs and government can be. Four years after an economic crisis in Canada, and one that is still ongoing in Europe and other parts of world, the Canadian government has finally gotten around to leaking a milquetoast document that says trade is urgent to growth. I have long wondered what does the PM do in a day? What do they spend their time doing in fancy office? Why do our MPs enjoy nothing more than standing around with their thumbs up bums and minds in neutral?

One of the most unpleasant aspects of being PM or top cabinet member is that you have to wine and dine murderous dictators from other countries. Trade with other countries is good for Canadians, and for foreigners we trade with. Canada should focus on trade with Asian countries – particularly India – but I think our relations with China are changing. North American businesses are struggling to operate ethically in China so they are moving their firms to other cheaper countries in Asia or relocating back to North America.

]]>By: kcm2http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/harpers-secret-asia-policy-much-like-his-public-asia-policy/#comment-1021505
kcm2Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:02:00 +0000http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=316587#comment-1021505It’s also fascinating to see the strategic moves in this direction that young Trudeau is starting to stake out for himself. Is it way too early to see a Harper/Trudeau squeeze play on the horizon? I too think Harper may have finally got the right message on the economy, only he’s going at it, as always, like a coss between 50 year old virgin who’s won a all in ticket to a 24 hour knocking shop extravaganza, and tin pot 7 year old tyrant who doesn’t have, never did have, the faintest idea how to play nice with others.

Can Harper carry his party that far; can Trudeau his? Certainly he has raised the eyebrows of greenie liberals like me. How will he square support for the oilsands and resource extraction with more protection for the environment than Harper’s vandals and wreckers can abide? And what of Tom? Interesting days lie ahead, no doubt.

]]>By: Brianhttp://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/harpers-secret-asia-policy-much-like-his-public-asia-policy/#comment-1021503
BrianTue, 20 Nov 2012 05:37:00 +0000http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=316587#comment-1021503I saw the CBC story on the National and I was a little confused myself. Couldn’t figure out what the news was, aside from the existence of a secret document that confirmed what was already blindingly obvious. It’s as if someone leaked a “secret plan” confirming the government’s unwavering support for spending on polling and communications.
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